Sylvain Reynard's Blog, page 4
March 17, 2024
Lenten Readalong 5
Dear Everyone,
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of joining the All Things SR Podcast in their chatroom for a discussion of “The Way of a Pilgrim.” Thanks to Pam and Leslie for inviting me and thanks to all who joined the chat. I really enjoyed our conversation. You can join the podcast every Saturday morning as they discuss “Gabriel’s Redemption.”
We will be reading Chapter 5 this week, which takes us into “The Pilgrim Continues his Way.” Sometimes we make a plan or set a goal, but things don’t turn out the way we planned. As you’re reading, consider how Pilgrim handles the disappointment of not being able to go to Jerusalem, and what happens to him as he changes his plans. He experiences change in this chapter, but also the constancy of his prayers and his communication of God.
As always, I welcome your comments and reflections. Thank you for joining me on this Lenten pilgrimage. I’m so grateful I’m not on pilgrimage alone.
All the best,
SR
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March 15, 2024
“Gabriel’s Inferno” Audiobook On Sale
Dear Everyone,
Audible has included “Gabriel’s Inferno” in its 2 for 1 audiobook sale. You can find the audiobook here. This sale is for a limited time and will end in three days.
Also, “The Roman” will be re-released as a paperback and an ebook. I’ll post the links when they become available.
Thank you for listening,
SR
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March 8, 2024
Lenten Readalong 4
Dear Everyone,
This week, we are reading Chapter 4. Chapter 3 was quite short, but Chapter 4 is longer and begins with the proverb, “But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord God.” I’m going to take some time to reflect on this proverb and what follows this week and invite everyone to join me in doing the same.
This week, I discovered a link to the Spanish translation of “The Way of a Pilgrim,” which is “El camino del peregrine.” You can find the book here.
I continue to be blessed by your reflections on comments. Thanks to everyone who is reading along with me and thanks especially to those who post comments. I hope everyone is enjoying a blessed Lent.
Thanks for reading,
SR
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March 1, 2024
Lenten Read-Along 3
Dear Everyone,
This week we are reading Chapter 3 of “The Way of a Pilgrim.” I’d like us to reflect on the nature of simplicity. Pilgrim’s life has become very simple as he journeys towards his goal. I’m wondering about how we can simplify our goals and our lives as part of a spiritual discipline, and what that simplification might look like.
I’m also reflecting on the Pilgrim’s need for solitude. This could be considered part of his simplified life, or maybe it’s a means to simply his life. I’m still pondering this.
I want to thank everyone who is reading along with me this Lent. And thanks to everyone who is taking the time to post comments and reflections. I’ve learned a great deal from you all and I’m looking forward to learning more.
Peace be with you all,
SR
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February 21, 2024
Lenten Read-Along – 2
Dear Everyone,
This week my recommendation is to read Chapter 2 of “The Way of a Pilgrim.” Some readers have been able to find the book online as a public domain translation. It’s also available as an ebook. It isn’t too late to join me – you can join at any time.
This week, I’d like us to reflect on the nature of the Pilgrim’s quest. As we saw in Chapter 1, he’s trying to find the answer to a question and this search propels him forward. Along the way, he seems to meet exactly who he needs to meet at exactly the right time. The answer to his question is progressive – it’s an answer that involves content as well as practice.
As we think about our own quest this Lent, let’s reflect on the unanswered questions we have and let’s look with expectation to find the people we need to meet at the right time. Let’s keep in mind that sometimes the answer to a question is a practice or an action, rather than a concept or idea.
Today, I learned that Leslie, one of our long time readers and podcasters, lost her mother. Please join me in remembering Leslie and her family in our prayers.
Peace be with Leslie and her family, and peace be with all of you.
SR
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February 15, 2024
Lenten Read-Along
Dear Everyone,
As I mentioned in a previous post, I’m reading “The Way of a Pilgrim” during Lent. I’m inviting everyone to join me in this read-along. I’m proposing that we read and discuss Chapter 1 this week, and then begin reading Chapter on Wednesday, February 21st. I’m proposing we read a chapter a week, continuing from “The Way of a Pilgrim,” into “The Pilgrim Continues his Way,” and ending our read-along on Easter Sunday.
It’s not too late to join me. There’s a kindle edition of the book available here. As you read Chapter 1 this week, I’d like you to consider our read-along as a kind of a pilgrimage. We’re joining the unnamed Pilgrim on his journey, as we mark our own journey through Lent. In reading Chapter 1, look for the description of continuous interior prayer by the elderly monk, and see how this sets the Pilgrim in a new direction.
I welcome comments and reflections below.
Peace be with all of you,
SR
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February 4, 2024
Audiobook Sale
Dear Everyone,
I’m happy to report that “The Man in the Black Suit” audiobook is on sale for a limited time, from the publisher. You can find the link here.
If you’d rather have the ebook, you can find it here. The paperback edition can be found here.
Thank you for reading and thank you for listening,
SR
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January 19, 2024
Update
Dear Everyone,
I wanted to thank you for your continued support. I am finishing the new book I’m working on and hoping to share it with you later this year.
Lent begins early this year, on February 14th. I am organizing a Lenten Readalong of “The Way of a Pilgrim.” This book is one of my favourites and it’s mentioned in “Gabriel’s Redemption.” “The Way of a Pilgrim” is a nineteenth century work of Russian Orthodox spirituality, in which a pilgrim learns how to pray. This is a gentle story, as we accompany the unnamed pilgrim through Russia, but it is profoundly inspirational. There is more than one edition of it, but I’m using this one, which is translated by RM French, and has a foreword by Huston Smith. I have the paperback, but you can easily use the Kindle edition.
I am proposing that we read the first chapter during the first week of Lent. I’ll be posting weekly reflections here and inviting you to read along with me and share your comments.
Peace be with all of you and thank you for reading,
SR.
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January 2, 2024
Happy New Year
Happy New Year, Everyone.
“Gabriel’s Inferno” (ebook) is on sale for $1.99 US, for a limited time, across platforms (Barnes and Noble, Amazon, iBooks, etc). This is a sale sponsored by my US publisher, Berkley. You can find the ebook here.
I hope that 2024 is filled with light and goodness. Peace be with you and peace be with the world.
Thank you for reading,
SR
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December 26, 2023
Advent Readalong – Merry Christmas
Dear Everyone,
I hope you had a very Merry Christmas, if you celebrate. Yesterday, I read the “Feliz Navidad” reading from Henri Nouwen’s book, and I also read Day 1 from the Twelve Days of Christmas readings. Today, I’ll continue with Day 2.
Fr. Nouwen has a unique way of both challenging and encouraging. He emphasizes community and friendship, but also humility and service. Humility is a virtue that’s absent largely from my culture and from much of history. And yet, it contributes something so important to our own spiritual discipline and to the communities we inhabit.
Fr. Nouwen also emphasized how communities are always populated with those who confound or trouble us. He also writes how a community is a place that takes us in. This latter point really struck me. So often I think of community as a place we create for others, but really, community is the place where we are welcomed, despite our own shortcomings. I am grateful for this reading community.
I welcome your comments and Advent and Christmas reflections. Have a blessed Twelve Days of Christmas,
SR
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